This study responds to calls for research on victimization experiences, attributions for these experiences, and their health effects among subgroups of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) young people who face disproportionate intersectional discrimination. Participants included a nationwide, U.S. sample of 125 Black LGBTQ+ young people aged 16 to 26 (M = 21.8 years) who completed a cross-sectional survey examining interpersonal violence victimization, bias-based attributions for victimization experiences, and health indicators. Interpersonal victimization was common: 32.0% experienced repeated harassment, 36.8% a physical/sexual threat, 28.0% a physical attack, 56.0% forced sexual contact, and 52.0% polyvictimization (two or more types of victimization). Being threatened with physical/sexual harm was significantly associated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, suicide ideation, and substance use; forced sexual activity/touching was associated with suicide ideation, suicide attempts, and substance use; and polyvictimization was associated with depressive symptoms, substance use, and suicide ideation and attempts. Attributing victimization to racism or intersectional discrimination based on racism and heterosexism/cisgenderism was associated with greater depressive symptoms and suicide ideation, and attributing victimization to heterosexism/cisgenderism, intersectional discrimination, or misogyny was associated with substance use. To reduce interpersonal violence, address bias-based attributions for victimization, and advance health equity among Black LGBTQ+ young people, we need structural and community/interpersonal level interventions addressing racism, heterosexism, sexism, and cisgenderism, and individual level interventions that help young people cope with bias-based victimization to prevent internalized stigma.
Interpersonal violence victimization and attributions among Black LGBTQ+ young people: Associations with behavioral health indicators
Journal of Aggression Maltreatment and Trauma [Epub 2026 Oct 27]. doi: 10.1080/10926771.2026.2753746.